Statement from Sutton’s Detective Superintendent Fran Smith, Deputy Borough Commander:

Over the last few days we have seen a number of incidents involving violence in our Borough including two serious assaults in the Town Centre. Such incidents are unusual in Sutton. They are all separate incidents and for them to happen in a short period of time is extremely rare.

I would like to reassure residents that we are working hard to investigate these crimes as thoroughly and as quickly as possible.

In the stabbing incident at Lodge Place on Tuesday, 22 November, two males have been arrested. We also arrested a male in connection with the assault on a man in Sutton High Street on Monday, 14 November. All our enquiries are continuing.

The bigger picture is that crime in Sutton is continuing to fall.

For example, for the seven priority crimes designated by the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime, which includes violent crime, there has been a 2% reduction in the 12 months to November compared to the same period the previous year.

In addition, we have the second best reduction for violence with injury; a reduction of 5% in non-domestic violence with injury; and one of the best detection rates – all against a background of a falling crime over the last ten years of more than 35%.

Our approach over recent years has been to work closely with residents and local communities to make Sutton even safer. We are determined to keep crime low and keep Sutton one of the safest boroughs in London.